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Terlingua Chili Queen Lyrics by Slaid Cleaves

Together Through the Dark

2023

[Verse 1]
Sandy worked in Dallas in an office in the sky
Chattin' up the oil men, her hair piled up high
Bought designer clothes at the Galleria Mall
Dancin' in Deep Ellum, she was fairest of them all
The husbands and the houses, they'd come and then they'd go
And when the dust would settle, she'd be right back on her own
[Verse 2]
If you wanna get ahead, you got to do the shuck and jive
So every day, it's outta bed and onto 35
Puttin' on mascara in the rearview mirror
In the back seat of her mind, there's a little flash of fear
Is this the life she wanted when she was a little girl
Or is there somethin' more out in the great big world?
[Chorus]
She started feelin' crazy, she started thinkin' wild
She wondered what would happen if she drove six hundred miles
She planned her getaway, she had the motive and the means
That's how a beaten-down Dallas gal became the Chili Queen
[Verse 3]
After twenty-too many years chasin' wedding rings
She traded in her Lexus, sold off all her things
Goodbye to fancy dinners, goodbye to therapy
She headed west on 20 with a chili recipe
On the dash, a pack of Salems and a half a pint of gin
Not carin' if she'd ever see the Metroplex again, no
[Chorus]
She drove all through the night toward that little border town
It's time for startin' over, no time for backin' down
Sunrise in Terlingua on that truck stop caffeine
That's how a beaten-down Dallas gal became the Chili Queen
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 4]
She found a place in Agua Fria with a kitchen out the back
Bought some pots and pans and she started to relax
Stirrin' and a-tastin' out in the open air
Sunshine on her skin, desert breezes in her hair
She won the chili cook-off, went off to celebrate
Dancin' at La Kiva like she's 'bout to levitate
[Chorus]
She kissed a river rat, they started singin' drinkin' songs
Said, "I'm here for a good time, I'm not here for long"
Now they're headed for the desert in search of mescaline
She planned her getaway, she had the motive and the means
Sunrise in Terlingua on that truck stop caffeine
Dancin' at the Starlight like she was seventeen
That's how a beaten-down Dallas gal became the Chili Queen
Credits
Slaid Cleaves

Slaid Cleaves

About “Terlingua Chili Queen” by Slaid Cleaves

Read the complete lyrics to "Terlingua Chili Queen" by Slaid Cleaves from the album "Together Through the Dark" in 2023. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Terlingua Chili Queen" is performed by Slaid Cleaves. from the album "Together Through the Dark" in 2023 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Terlingua Chili Queen", explore more songs by Slaid Cleaves using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Terlingua Chili Queen" is credited to Slaid Cleaves. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Terlingua Chili Queen" appears on "Together Through the Dark" in 2023.

Visit the Slaid Cleaves artist page at /artist/slaid-cleaves for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.